Chios page 4

South of Chios Town: The Kambos and Karfas

Due
south of town is the fertile plain called the Campos (or Kambos). Many remnants of Chios' Genovese past are still to be seen
in the form of
plantations, villas, tall stone wall enclosed gardens, and the tell-tale stripes of Genoese nobility. Well-to-do Genovese overlords lived here
side by side with their Greek serfs from the 14th Century onwards, cultivating
Mastick and Mulberry trees.

The latter for the silk producing worms, which
also added to the islands prestige. Nowadays, a few of the mansions have
been preserved and their water wheels (manganos) still turn with the flowing
of the streams. The Argentis Estates and that of the Kazanova Family are
particularly beautiful.

Mastodon bones were found at Thymiana, outside the Campos walls. Thymiana was the source for Campos' golden building stone.
There's a woman's cooperative there that produces rugs, towels, and woven goods.

Toward the village of Vivili is the octagonal domed church Panagia Krina, which contains fine Cretan
frescoes.

Southwest of Chios Town: The Mastikochoria (Mastik growing villages)

There are
about 20 villages dating from the Middle Ages where Mastick was grown and
these are collectively referred to as the Mastikochoria. The Turks spared
these in 1822 and are of Genovese design purposely planned to confuse would-be invaders. The first village is Armolia, topped
by its Byzantine castle Kastro tis Oreas (1440).

Thriving Kalamoti is the next village and boasts cobbled streets and tall stone houses. Kalamoti has a pretty Byzantine
church, Ag. Parskevi. It isn't far from the 12th Century church Panagia Sikelia. Sandy
Komi is the nearest beach.

Pirgi (or Pyrgi) is the largest village
of the region and well worth visiting as it contains many architectural
details of the period particularly the xista sgraffito style of decoration. In Xista, the walls are covered with mortar containing
black sand, then coated with white plaster which is scraped off to create geometric, floral or animal designs.

Wander through the remaining villages in the Mastikochoria to see the old mastic-exporting port at Emborio, the impressive
tower at Olympi and the fortress at well-preserved mastic village Mesta. There are villages, tavernas, and beaches
throughout this region of the island.